Self-Launched Ubud to Flores: Komodo Dragons, Beaches & Tribal Treks
10 days · Bali & Flores, Indonesia
G Adventures charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£800 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings trip from Ubud to Labuan Bajo. You'll do it independently: cheap Bali homestays, the budget direct flight to Flores, public/local transport plus a hired motorbike taxi (ojek) to the Wae Rebo trailhead, an overnight in the UNESCO-listed cone-house village of Wae Rebo (booked direct through the village cooperative), and a self-booked 2-night/3-day Komodo National Park open-trip on a shared phinisi boat via a local Labuan Bajo operator. Everything here is bookable yourself — no group leader — at roughly a third of the tour price. Expect basic guesthouse/homestay accommodation, some shared bathrooms, and lumpy-but-life-changing long-distance bus and boat legs. Costs are approximate, based on current backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Ubud — settle in and eat
Ubud, Bali
Fly into Denpasar (DPS), complete the mandatory All-Indonesia Arrival Card online in the 72 hours before arrival, and pay the Bali tourist levy (150,000 IDR / ~£7) online via Love Bali beforehand to skip the queue. Take the Grab/Gojek or the Trans Metro Dewata bus + local bemo to Ubud (about 1.5 hrs, £6-10 by app ride, ~£2 by public bus). Check into a central Ubud homestay or hostel dorm. Wander Jalan Hanoman and the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunset, then eat nasi campur at a warung for £2-3. Book tomorrow's activities tonight.
🚌Airport to Ubud by Grab/Gojek (~£7-10) or Trans Metro Dewata bus + bemo (~£2)
🛏Ubud homestay or hostel dorm (central, ~£12/night)
- →Campuhan Ridge Walk (free)
- →Ubud evening market and warungs
Ubud DIY: rice terraces, waterfall and a cooking class
Ubud, Bali
Self-book a small-group Balinese cooking class through GetYourGuide or Klook (£20-28, includes market tour and lunch) — the equivalent of the operator's PKP Community cooking class. In the morning, cycle or walk the Tegalalang rice terraces (£3 entry, e-bike hire ~£8/day) and cool off at Tibumana or Tegenungan waterfall (£2-3 entry). Alternatively book a Balinese spiritual/offering-making workshop direct with a local foundation (~£15). In the evening catch a free or £5 gamelan/dance performance at Ubud Palace.
🚌Walk, scooter hire (~£8/day) or Grab within Ubud (~£3-5)
🛏Ubud homestay or hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Balinese cooking class (£20-28)
- →Tegalalang rice terraces (£3)
- →Tibumana waterfall (£2)
- →Ubud Palace dance performance (£5)
Fly Ubud to Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Early transfer back to Denpasar airport and fly direct to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) — Wings Air, NAM Air or Batik Air, book 4-8 weeks out for the best fares (~£55-85 one way, 1h20). Land, Grab to your guesthouse near the harbour, and use the afternoon to walk the waterfront, swim at one of the small town beaches, and shop around the harbour tour offices for a Komodo boat trip. Reserve your 2-night/3-day shared phinisi open trip now (£130-180, includes meals, snorkel gear and park fees — confirm park fees are included).
🚌Grab to DPS (~£8), domestic flight DPS-LBJ (~£70), airport to town Grab (~£2)
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse or hostel (~£15)
- →Fly DPS-LBJ
- →Labuan Bajo waterfront walk
- →Book Komodo boat trip at the harbour
Tado village hike and on to Dintor
Tado & Dintor, Flores
Take a shared bemo or a hired car from Labuan Bajo to Tado village (about 1.5 hrs south, ~£15-20 split between 3-4 travellers, or ~£8 by public bemo with a change in Lembor). Walk the spiderweb rice terraces and hike the ~1.5 km viewpoint trail with a village guide arranged on arrival (£5-8). Lunch in Tado, then continue south by bemo or ojek to Dintor village (~£8-12), where you overnight in a simple local homestay. Confirm tomorrow's ojek and trailhead logistics with your host tonight; ask them to arrange the Wae Rebo village permit/entry fee and a guide if you haven't booked ahead.
🚌Shared bemo/car Labuan Bajo-Tado (~£15-20 split) and Tado-Dintor bemo/ojek (~£10)
🛏Dintor village homestay (~£12, basic, shared bathroom)
- →Spiderweb rice terrace walk in Tado (free)
- →Guided viewpoint hike (£5-8)
- →Dintor village evening
Trek to Wae Rebo and sleep in a Mbaru Niang
Wae Rebo Village, Flores
Arrange an ojek from Dintor to the Wae Rebo trailhead at Denge (~£6-8), pay the village entry/permit fee (around 350,000 IDR / ~£17, which covers guide, meals and your bed in the communal house — book direct by phone/WhatsApp with the Wae Rebo cooperative a few days ahead if possible), and hike 2-3 hours uphill through jungle with plenty of rest stops. You'll be met with a welcome ceremony, lunch and coffee harvested and roasted with your hosts. Dinner is shared in the cone house; sleep on mats in the Mbaru Niang communal house (bring a warm layer — it's cool and damp at altitude).
🚌Ojek Dintor to Denge trailhead (~£7)
🛏Mbaru Niang communal house in Wae Rebo (~£17 incl. meals, mats on floor, shared facilities)
- →2-3 hr jungle trek to Wae Rebo
- →Welcome ceremony and village lunch
- →Coffee harvesting and roasting workshop
- →Overnight in Mbaru Niang
Trek out and return to Labuan Bajo
Wae Rebo to Labuan Bajo, Flores
Hike back down to Denge (2 hrs), pick up your ojek back to Dintor or straight to the main road, then take a shared bemo or arrange a car back to Labuan Bajo (4-5 hrs, ~£12-18 shared). Check back into your Labuan Bajo guesthouse, do laundry, shower off the jungle and eat a big seafood dinner at the night market near the harbour (£4-6). Confirm your boat departure time and packing for tomorrow with the operator.
🚌Ojek plus shared bemo/car back to Labuan Bajo (~£18)
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse or hostel (~£15)
- →Trek out from Wae Rebo
- →Labuan Bajo night market seafood dinner
Komodo National Park — Kelor, Rinca and Kalong
Komodo National Park (onboard)
Board your shared phinisi boat at Labuan Bajo harbour mid-morning (liveaboard trips depart around 9-10am). Sail to Kelor Island for the short hike up to the viewpoint over Strawberry Rock and a first snorkel on the reef. Lunch on deck, then trek Rinca Island with a ranger to spot wild Komodo dragons (£8-13 ranger fee, usually included in the trip price). In the late afternoon anchor at Kalong Island to watch thousands of flying foxes stream out at sunset. Dinner and night on the boat under the stars.
🚌Phinisi boat (included in trip cost)
🛏Shared phinisi boat, cabin or deck berth (included in the boat trip price)
- →Kelor Island hike and snorkel
- →Rinca Island Komodo dragon ranger trek
- →Flying fox sunset at Kalong Island
Padar sunrise, Manta Point and Sebayur
Komodo National Park (onboard)
Up before dawn for the Padar Island ridge trek to catch the sunrise over the three bays — one of Indonesia's great views. Back aboard for breakfast, then swim at Long Beach (pink sand) and snorkel at Manta Point hoping for manta rays. Finish with sunset snorkelling at Sebayur Island, then a beach bonfire and star-gazing before sleeping on deck. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest.
🚌Phinisi boat (included)
🛏Shared phinisi boat (included)
- →Padar Island sunrise trek
- →Pink Beach swim
- →Snorkelling with manta rays at Manta Point
- →Sebayur sunset and beach bonfire
Kanawa Island kayaking, back to Labuan Bajo
Komodo National Park to Labuan Bajo
Last morning on the water: snorkel the Sebayur/Kanawa reefs and paddle a sea kayak to Kanawa Island (£5-8 hire if not included). Dock back in Labuan Bajo after lunch, pay any outstanding park fees, shower at the guesthouse, then celebrate with the boat crew and fellow travellers at a beach bar on the waterfront (£10-15 for drinks). If your boat trip runs 3 days/2 nights you may return on day 9 — check the operator's schedule and adjust day 3-4 bookings accordingly.
🚌Phinisi boat back to harbour (included), walking in town
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse or hostel (~£15)
- →Kanawa Island kayaking (£5-8)
- →Reef snorkelling
- →Waterfront beach bar night out (£10-15)
Depart Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Grab to Komodo Airport (LBJ) for your onward flight to Bali, Denpasar or Jakarta. If your international flight is later in the day, squeeze in the Cunca Wulang waterfall or a morning snorkel at Silvia Beach first. Note that LBJ-Bali fares are cheapest booked in advance and that you'll need to be at the airport about 1 hour before domestic departures.
🚌Grab to Komodo Airport (~£2)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Cunca Wulang waterfall (£8-10 with guide)
- →Optional Silvia Beach snorkel
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£800 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £350 per person (30%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£800
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ubud to Flores: Komodo Dragons, Beaches & Tribal Treks cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £800 per person for 10 days in Bali & Flores, Indonesia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £800 — a saving of roughly £350 (30%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Flores, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Bali & Flores, Indonesia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Bali & Flores, Indonesia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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